What's the competition got the Gladiator doesn't?

[PuddleJumper]

Gladiator does not do well if one is to chart and graph it against the other vehicle in the mid size segment and your primary goal is A to B daily transportation.

Frame the question as a lifestyle vehicle and it outshines them all.

With the Gladiator, you join a community and not just be another anonymous tin can going down the road. You gain a aftermarket support that eclipses the others many a fold over. I have more confidence of there being a robust platform support of this vehicle 20+ years down the line than anything else.

Lastly, the cost and ease to mod is unmatched by anything else with most of it being driveway doable by the average home mechanical skill set.

when you put it that way. It makes a lot more sense.

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[MPMB]

fleet vehicle definitely doesn't make sense for a gladiator. u have a point there.

Rental fleets. There were a lot of JTs in Jackson over Christmas/New Years. It's like the only options in Jackson are Suburban, Expedition, Wrangler, or Gladiator.

 

[PuddleJumper]

Rental fleets. There were a lot of JTs in Jackson over Christmas/New Years. It's like the only options in Jackson are Suburban, Expedition, Wrangler, or Gladiator.

thats cool. didn't know that had that.

 

[Hootbro]

when you put it that way. It makes a lot more sense.

Gladiator suffers the same fate as the Wrangler. People likes to box the Wrangler into other comparable size SUV's and in that case, it makes a crappy SUV if all the bells, whistles and ride quality is factored in but it is way cooler to be seen in a Wrangler, especially if lifted and modded out right.

Both Wrangler and the Gladiator are really in there own class with maybe the Ford Bronco bringing something to the Wrangler in terms of like competition as a lifestyle vehicle.

 

[AyeCantSeeYou]

The truck bed: the Gladiator loses in carrying volume.

https://www.cars.com/articles/range...n-which-has-the-best-bed-and-tailgate-409453/

 

[PuddleJumper]

The truck bed: the Gladiator loses in carrying volume.

https://www.cars.com/articles/range...n-which-has-the-best-bed-and-tailgate-409453/

I have an issue with the taco bed too tho.

 

[Hootbro]

The truck bed: the Gladiator loses in carrying volume.

https://www.cars.com/articles/range...n-which-has-the-best-bed-and-tailgate-409453/

Owned a 21 Honda Ridgeline as the wife's primary vehicle. Found myself using the bed of it more than my Gladiator for everyday stuff, like brush hauls and some minor landscaping work. Way more utility and ease of getting in and out of it. Only niggle is the bed side walls are a bit shorter.

 

[Jefe1018]

With the Gladiator, you join a community and not just be another anonymous tin can going down the road.

I agree with everything you said except this. This makes us sound like a cult, with the rubber ducks and the waves and the other weird stuff going on. ?

 

[Hootbro]

I agree with everything you said except this. This makes us sound like a cult, with the rubber ducks and the waves and the other weird stuff going on. ?

But we lack Kool-Aid drinking parties, so it is a good cult.

 

[Lunentucker]

The Gladiator is a high maintenance needy creature compared to my old 2005 Tacoma.
I put shocks, tires, and did oil changes on that one, and it was still great at 190,000 miles.
Toyota did replace the frame in 2015, but that's on them and it's a tribute to their willingness to make things right beyond warranty coverage. Yes, I know they got a settlement from the supplier, but they still passed that down to the consumer.

The IFS vehicles are of course going to ride better and handle better, but they just don't require as much servicing as a SAV. I'm talking about alignments, diff fluid changes, axles leaks, ball joints, etc.

Real world, the vast majority of us spend 99.5% of our time on paved roads.

 

[PuddleJumper]

The Gladiator is a high maintenance needy creature compared to my old 2005 Tacoma.
I put shocks, tires, and did oil changes on that one, and it was still great at 190,000 miles.
Toyota did replace the frame in 2015, but that's on them and it's a tribute to their willingness to make things right beyond warranty coverage. Yes, I know they got a settlement from the supplier, but they still passed that down to the consumer.

The IFS vehicles are of course going to ride better and handle better, but they just don't require as much servicing as a SAV. I'm talking about alignments, diff fluid changes, axles leaks, ball joints, etc.

Real world, the vast majority of us spend 99.5% of our time on paved roads.

very true

 

[Bonanza]

1) Better engine
2) Power sliding rear window
3) All windows down/up button

 

[Ogre_FL]

The truck bed: the Gladiator loses in carrying volume.

https://www.cars.com/articles/range...n-which-has-the-best-bed-and-tailgate-409453/

I dont see height of the bed side and/or volume as meaning that much.
Its mostly bed length and distance between wheel wells.
In fact too tall of bed sides is a detriment to me.

 

[AyeCantSeeYou]

I dont see height of the bed side and/or volume as meaning that much.
Its mostly bed length and distance between wheel wells.
In fact too tall of bed sides is a detriment to me.

It's perfect the way it is to me.

There are those that want to carry half their damn house with them everywhere they go though.

 

[BearFootSam]

The gladiator has better visibility which is a benefit on and off road. Naturally aspirated v6 that is fairly reliable vs highly tuned turbo 4's in the competition. Still solid front axle which I like the feel of. Great cockpit, easy and intuitive controls, manual transfer case, in JTR form it's ready to roll off the lot. Down the line the JT will retain cult status that a Chevy/Ford/Honda alternative will never reach. I'm not sure I'd hop into any of the competition on a daily basis and still think "man this is a cool vehicle". On paper it doesn't stack up but in the real world it's more than the sum of its parts.

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